Binge Eating

Overindulgence is not generally the same as binge eating. Binge eating is defined as consuming a large amount of food within two hours and being unable to control the amount consumed and to stop eating.

The amount of food eaten during a binge exceeds what most people would consume in the same time under similar circumstances. Holiday overeating, for example, would not meet this definition because it generally involves a conscious decision to overindulge and the amount consumed does not differ that much from that of the other diners. Research on binge eating indicates that binges typically occur at times of stress, often in the evening.

What Is Binge-Eating Disorder?

Binge-eating disorder (BED) was identified in 1959 but was not included as a medical diagnostic category until 1994. BED is characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating, occurring at least two days a week for six months.

Binge-eating episodes are associated with at least three of the following:

eating rapidly

eating until feeling uncomfortably full

eating when not hungry

eating alone because of embarrassment

feeling disgusted, depressed or guilty after overeating.

To meet criteria for BED, a person must also experience marked distress about the binge eating and not regularly engage in self-induced vomiting, fasting or abuse of laxatives or diuretics.

Unlike other eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, BED affects a substantial number of men. BED is more common among the severely overweight but can be found among people of any weight. Regardless of a person's weight, it is typical for the BED sufferer to feel overweight and to have a history of many attempts to lose weight. The onset of binge eating is often closely associated with dieting, typically occurring in late adolescence.

If individuals with BED are overweight, they may get considerable pressure to lose weight from health professionals and family. Yet many failed diets may lead them to feel powerless over the binge-eating pattern.